Pick-up head system

ABSTRACT

A pick-up head system for use with a surface cleaning vehicle comprises a housing extending between a first end and a second end, and having a front and a back, and a suctioning bottom opening. A debris outlet is disposed in the housing for permitting dust and debris to egress from the housing into a hopper. A debris passage is disposed within the housing in dust and debris delivery relation with respect to the debris outlet. There is at least one non-rotating main broom operatively mounted in the housing adjacent the debris passage for cleaning contact with a surface to be cleaned, thereby loosening debris for subsequent suctioning into the debris outlet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pick-up head systems for factory,sidewalk and street sweepers, and more particularly to such pick-up headsystems that fully clean the surface to be cleaned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior art recirculating air type pick-up heads typically incorporate afull-width suction and full-width air blast to clean the surface andtransfer debris-laden air to the right hand side suction tube.Additionally, the pick-up head incorporates a rotating main broom in aninternal broom chamber built into the rear of the pick-up head. The mainbroom sweeps debris forwardly into the internal air stream that capturesthe swept debris.

Since the rotating main broom is sweeping rearwardly of the internal airstream within the housing, some of the dust and other fine particulatematter created by the rotating main broom is not carried away by theinternal air stream, but instead remains on the surface to be cleaned.This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the surface cleaningvehicle is moving forwardly. Furthermore, prior art rotating main broomsare typically about 14″ in diameter, and the contact area of a rotatingmain broom with the surface to be cleaned is directly under the axis ofrotation of the rotating main broom. Accordingly, the debris must bepropelled a considerable distance to reach the internal air stream,which occasionally does not happen for some materials. As a result, inthe prior art, a significant amount of dust and other fine particulatematter can remain on the surface to be cleaned.

Further, the direction of propulsion of the debris is not towards thedebris outlet of the pick-up head. Instead, the direction of propulsionof the debris is generally transversely oriented to the path the debrismust take to reach the debris outlet of the pick-up head.

Another significant problem stems from the fact that in such prior artpick-up heads, the front-to-back cross-sectional area is quitesignificant in order to accommodate the rotating main broom.Accordingly, either the speed of the internal air stream is slowed dueto larger cross-sectional area of head therefore a very high poweredmain fan is required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dustless debrispick-up head system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem wherein dust and other fine particulate matter are propelled bythe broom in a direction towards the debris outlet of the pick-up head.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem wherein a significant amount of dust and other fine particulatematter do not remain on the surface to be cleaned.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem wherein the front-to-back cross-sectional area is minimized.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem that is significantly narrower from front-to-back than prior artpick-up heads.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem wherein the speed of the internal air stream is not affected by alarge cross-sectional area broom chamber housing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem wherein a very high powered main fan is not required.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem that cleans virtually all debris from a surface being cleaned.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem wherein the direction of propulsion of the debris is generallytransversely oriented to the path the debris must take to reach thedebris outlet of the pick-up head.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up headsystem that is more efficient thereby allowing either a faster effectivesweeping speed or reduction of energy, thus fuel, to perform the samejob.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there isdisclosed a novel pick-up head system for use with a surface cleaningvehicle. The pick-up head system comprises a housing extending between afirst end and a second end, and having a front and a back, and asuctioning bottom opening; a debris outlet in the housing for permittingdust and debris to egress from the housing into a hopper; a debrispassage disposed within the housing in dust and debris delivery relationwith respect to the debris outlet; and at least one non-rotating mainbroom operatively mounted in the housing adjacent the debris passage forcleaning contact with a surface to be cleaned, thereby loosening debrisfor subsequent suctioning into the debris outlet.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention,as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements ofthe structure, and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description and the appended claims with reference tothe accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly describedherein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thepick-up head system according to the present invention, as to itsstructure, organization, use and method of operation, together withfurther objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understoodfrom the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration and description only, and are not intended as a definitionof the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1A is a partially cut-away perspective view from the front right ofthe first preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 1B is a partially cut-away top plan view of the first preferredembodiment pick-up head system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a partially cut-away front elevational view of the firstpreferred embodiment pick-up head system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thesecond preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thethird preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thefourth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 5A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thefifth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thesixth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 7A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of theseventh preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7B is a partially cut-away front elevational view of the seventhpreferred embodiment pick-up head system of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 7C is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of theseventh preferred embodiment pick-up head system of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of theeighth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 9A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of theninth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thetenth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 11A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of theeleventh preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 12A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thetwelfth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 13A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thethirteenth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 14A is a partially cut-away top plan view from the right of thefourteenth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to thepresent invention; and,

FIG. 15 is a partially cut-away perspective view from the front right ofthe fifteenth preferred embodiment pick-up head system according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1A through 1C, which show the firstpreferred embodiment of the dustless pick-up head system for a mobilesurface cleaning vehicle (not specifically shown) according to thepresent invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 100. Inorder to perform its sweeping function, the mobile surface cleaningvehicle travels forwardly generally along the longitudinal axis “L”.

The dustless pick-up head system 100 for a mobile surface cleaningvehicle comprises a housing 110 extending between a first end 111 (aright end) and a second end 112 (a left end). The housing 110 also has afront 114 and a back 116, and a suctioning bottom opening 118. There isalso a debris outlet 119 in the housing 110 for permitting dust anddebris to egress from the housing 110 into a hopper (not specificallyshown) via a delivery duct 106.

The pick-up head system 100 further comprises an airflow obstructingmeans 120 depending from the front bottom edge 115 of the housing 110for generally obstructing the passage of air between the front bottomedge 115 of the main housing 110 and the surface to be cleaned 104. Theairflow obstructing means 120 comprises a stiff flap, in order tosubstantially preclude the entry of debris into the housing 110 throughthe suctioning bottom opening 118 via passage under the front bottomedge 115 of the housing 110.

A debris passage 130 is disposed within the housing 110 in dust anddebris delivery relation with respect to the debris outlet 119. Thedebris passage 130 is oriented generally along the length of the housing110.

The pick-up head system 100 further comprises an optional debrissuctioning inlet 60 in the housing 110 disposed adjacent the first end111 of the housing 110, and preferably at the first end 111 of thehousing 110. The debris suctioning inlet 60 is for suctioning dust anddebris into the debris passage 130. The debris passage 130 extends fromthe debris suctioning inlet 60 to the debris outlet 119.

The housing 110 also has a front wall 115, and further comprises adebris receiving main inlet 142 in the front wall 115 of the housing 110in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface to be cleaned104, for receiving debris to the housing 110, and a door apparatus 150operatively mounted at the debris receiving main inlet 142. The doorapparatus preferably comprises a substantially sealed door apparatus150, itself comprising a rotatable door assembly 146 defining asubstantially horizontally oriented central pivot axis “P” and an outerperiphery 147. A seal is operatively disposed in sealing relationbetween the rotatable door assembly 146 and the housing 110.

There is also at least one non-rotating main broom 140 operativelymounted in the housing 110 adjacent the debris passage 130 for cleaningcontact with a surface to be cleaned 104, thereby loosening debris forsubsequent carrying along the debris passage 130 by a flow of air andalso for immediately subsequent suctioning into the debris outlet 119.The term non-rotating main broom refers to a broom that does not rotateabout a generally central fixed axis.

In the first preferred embodiment, the at least one non-rotating mainbroom 140 comprises a stationary main broom 140 disposed forwardly ofthe debris passage 130. The stationary main broom 140 extendssubstantially along the length of the debris passage 130, and air anddebris may flow all around the top or front of the stationary main broom140, as it does along the debris passage 130.

Preferably, as can readily be seen in FIG. 1B, the stationary main broom140 is less than about eight (8) centimeters in width, and even morepreferably about four (4) centimeters in width. Resultingly, in thefirst preferred embodiment is illustrated, the fore-to-aft width of thehousing 110 is no more than about five (5) or six (6) centimetersgreater than the width of the debris passage 130 itself, with most ofthe slight extra width being taken up by the stationary main broom 140.Accordingly, the cross-sectional area of the overall path within thehousing 110 that air and debris can flow along, is only slightly greaterthan the cross-sectional area of the debris passage 130, therebymaximizing the effectiveness of the air flow through the debris passage130. It can therefore be seen that the present invention provides apick-up head system 100 wherein high speed airflow is maintained at asclose to an optimal level as reasonably possible, by having a narrowmain sweeping broom 140 in the pick-up head system 100, instead of amuch wider diameter cylindrically shaped rotating sweeping broom, as isknown in the prior art.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 2A, which show an second preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 200. The second preferredembodiment pick-up head system 200 is similar to the first preferredembodiment pick-up head system 100, except that the at least onenon-rotating main broom 240, which is still a stationary main broom, isdisposed rearwardly of the debris passage 230. As in the first preferredembodiment, high speed airflow is maintained at as close to an optimallevel as reasonably possible, by having a narrow main sweeping broom 240in the pick-up head system 200, instead of a much wider diametercylindrically shaped rotating sweeping broom, as is known in the priorart.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 3A, which shows a third preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 300. The third preferredembodiment pick-up head system 300 is similar to the first preferredembodiment pick-up head system 100, except that at least onenon-rotating main broom 340 comprises a movable main broom 340, and morespecifically comprises an oscillating main broom 340 and a selectivelyoperable motor means 350 for operating the oscillating main broom 340.The selectively operable motor means 350 preferably comprises apneumatic motor 350 operatively coupled to the oscillating main broom340 by means of a suitable cam arrangement 342. The oscillating mainbroom 340 oscillates longitudinally along its length, as indicated bydouble-ended arrow “A”. As in the other preferred embodiments, highspeed airflow is maintained at as close to an optimal level asreasonably possible, by having a narrow main sweeping broom 340 in thepick-up head system 300, instead of a much wider diameter cylindricallyshaped rotating sweeping broom, as is known in the prior art.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 4A, which shows a fourth preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 400. The fourth preferredembodiment pick-up head system 400 is similar to the third preferredembodiment pick-up head system 300, except that the oscillating mainbroom 440 oscillates substantially transversely with respect to itslength, as indicated by double arrows “B”. As in the other preferredembodiments, high speed airflow is maintained at as close to an optimallevel as reasonably possible, by having a narrow main sweeping broom 440in the pick-up head system 400, instead of a much wider diametercylindrically shaped rotating sweeping broom, as is known in the priorart.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 5A, which shows a fifth preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 500. The fifth preferredembodiment pick-up head system 500 is similar to the third preferredembodiment pick-up head system 300, except that the movable main broom540 comprises a vibrating main broom 540 and a selectively operablemotor means 550 for operating the vibrating main broom 540. Theselectively operable motor means 550 preferably comprises a pneumaticmotor 550 operatively coupled to the vibrating main broom 540 by meansof a suitable cam arrangement 542. The vibrating main broom 540 vibratesin various directions, as indicated by multiple arrows “C”.

As in the other preferred embodiments, high speed airflow is maintainedat as close to an optimal level as reasonably possible, by having anarrow main sweeping broom 540 in the pick-up head system 500, insteadof a much wider diameter cylindrically shaped rotating sweeping broom,as is known in the prior art.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 6A, which shows a sixth preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 600. The sixth preferredembodiment pick-up head system 600 is similar to the third preferredembodiment pick-up head system 300, fourth preferred embodiment pick-uphead system 400, and fifth preferred embodiment pick-up head system 500,except that the vibrating main broom 640 is disposed rearwardly of thedebris passage 630.

As in the other preferred embodiments, high speed airflow is maintainedat as close to an optimal level as reasonably possible, by having anarrow main sweeping broom 640 in the pick-up head system 600, insteadof a much wider diameter cylindrically shaped rotating sweeping broom,as is known in the prior art.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 7A through 7C, which show a seventhpreferred embodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 700. The seventh preferredembodiment pick-up head system 700 is similar to the first preferredembodiment pick-up head system 100, except that the movable main broom740 comprises a segmented main broom 740 comprising a plurality of broomsegments 741, and a selectively operable motor means 750 for operatingthe segmented main broom 740.

The plurality of broom segments 741 are each mounted to a chain drivemechanism 742 comprising a drive chain 743 operatively engaged on aplurality of sprockets 744, specifically on a drive sprocket 744 d andan idler sprocket 744 i. The selectively operable motor means 750preferably comprises a hydraulically driven motor 750, but couldalternatively comprise an electrically driven motor. The hydraulicallydriven motor 750 rotationally drives the drive sprocket 744 d inrotational direction as indicated by arrow “D”, which causes motion ofthe drive chain 743 along its path around the drive sprocket 744 d andthe idler sprocket 744 i, as indicated by arrows “E”, which furthercauses the idler sprocket 744 i to rotate in a rotational direction asindicated by arrow “F”. The bristles 741 b of the plurality of broomsegments 741 are forcefully moved across the surface to be cleaned 704in a direction as indicated by arrows “G”, thereby moving debris on thesurface to be cleaned 704 directly linearly towards the debris outlet719, and transversely to the direction of travel of the surface cleaningvehicle. Accordingly, the segmented main broom 740 sweeps the surface tobe cleaned 704 in a superior manner as compared to known prior artrotating main brooms in that the debris is moved directly to the debrisoutlet 719 instead of just being thrown forwardly into the stream of airtraveling through the debris passage 730 of the housing 710.Furthermore, all this is accomplished by a main broom 740 having a widthof about four (4) centimeters instead of about thirty (30) centimeters,as is standard in the prior art.

As in the other preferred embodiments, high speed airflow is maintainedat as close to an optimal level as reasonably possible, by having anarrow main sweeping broom 740 in the pick-up head system 700, insteadof a much wider diameter cylindrically shaped rotating sweeping broom,as is known in the prior art.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 8A, which shows a eighth preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 800. The eighth preferredembodiment pick-up head system 800 is similar to the seventh preferredembodiment pick-up head system 700, except that the segmented main broom840 is disposed rearwardly of the debris passage 830.

As in the other preferred embodiments, high speed airflow is maintainedat as close to an optimal level as reasonably possible, by having anarrow main sweeping broom 840 in the pick-up head system 800, insteadof a much wider diameter cylindrically shaped rotating sweeping broom,as is known in the prior art.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 9A, which shows a ninth preferredembodiment of the dustless pick-up head system system according to thepresent invention, as indicated by reference numeral 900. The ninthpreferred embodiment pick-up head system 900 is similar to the firstpreferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that the pick-uphead system 900 further comprises a partition 960 disposed between thedebris passage 930 and the at least one non-rotating main broom 940,which is a stationary main broom 940. The partition 960 physicallysections off the debris passage 930 from the space that houses thestationary main broom 940. As in the other preferred embodiments, highspeed airflow is maintained at as close to an optimal level asreasonably possible, by having a narrow main sweeping broom 940 in thepick-up head system 900, instead of a much wider diameter cylindricallyshaped rotating sweeping broom, as is known in the prior art.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 10A, which shows a tenth preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 1000. The tenth preferredembodiment pick-up head system 1000 is similar to the ninth preferredembodiment pick-up head system 900, except that the stationary mainbroom 1040 is disposed rearwardly of the debris passage 1030, behind thepartition 1060. As in the other preferred embodiments, high speedairflow is maintained at as close to an optimal level as reasonablypossible, by having a narrow main sweeping broom 1040 in the pick-uphead system 1000, instead of a much wider diameter cylindrically shapedrotating sweeping broom, as is known in the prior art.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 11A, which shows a eleventh preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 1100. The eleventhpreferred embodiment pick-up head system 1100 is similar to the firstpreferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that the housing issubstantially straight and is slanted rearwardly from the first debrissuctioning inlet 1160 to a left end wall portion 1117 disposed at thesecond end 1112 of the housing 1110. There is only one debris suctioninginlet 1160 disposed at the first end 1111 of the housing 1110.Furthermore, the debris outlet 1119 is disposed towards the second end1112 of the housing 1110. The debris receiving main inlet 1142 and thesealed door apparatus 1150 are also disposed adjacent the second end1112 of the housing 1110. The debris outlet 1119 is disposed in the backwall portion 1116 of the housing 1110 adjacent the second end 1112 ofthe housing 1110.

There is a single non-rotating main broom 1140 operatively mounted inthe housing 1110 adjacent the debris passage 1130 for cleaning contactwith a surface to be cleaned 1104, thereby loosening debris forsubsequent carrying along the debris passage 1130 by a flow of air andalso for immediately subsequent suctioning into the debris outlet 1119.The term non-rotating main broom refers to a broom that does not rotateabout a generally central fixed axis. In the eleventh preferredembodiment, the non-rotating main broom 1140 comprises a stationary mainbroom 1140 disposed forwardly of the debris passage 1130. The stationarymain broom 1140 extends substantially along the length of the debrispassage 1130, and air and debris may flow all around the top or front ofthe stationary main broom 1140, in addition to flowing along the mainpart of the debris passage 1130.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 12A, which shows a twelfth preferredembodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 1200. The twelfth preferredembodiment pick-up head system 1200 is similar to the eleventh preferredembodiment pick-up head system 1100, except that the non-rotating mainbroom 1240 is disposed rearwardly of the debris passage 1230.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 13A, which shows a thirteenthpreferred embodiment of the pick-up head system according to the presentinvention, as indicated by reference numeral 1300. The thirteenthpreferred embodiment pick-up head system 1300 is similar to the firstpreferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that there are fournon-rotating main brooms 1340 (only two shown), two brooms 1340 behindthe debris passage 1330 and two brooms 1340 in front of the debrispassage 1330. Furthermore, two of the brooms 1340 are on the left sideof the debris outlet 1319 and two of the brooms 1340 are on the rightside of the debris outlet 1319.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 14A, which shows the fourteenthpreferred embodiment of the dustless pick-up head system 1400 for usewith a surface cleaning vehicle 1402, as indicated by the generalreference numeral 1400. The fourteenth preferred embodiment dustlesspick-up head system 1400 comprises a housing 1410 extending between afront 1410 f, a back 1410 b, a first end 1411 and a second end 1412, andhaving a first suctioning bottom opening 1414 a and a second suctioningbottom opening 1414 b.

A debris passage 1430 is disposed within the housing 1410 in dust anddebris delivery relation with respect to a dust and debris outlet 1420.The dust and debris outlet 1420 is for receiving dust and debris fromthe debris passage 1430 and permitting dust and debris to egress fromthe housing 1410 into a hopper (not specifically shown). An air supplypassage 1480 is disposed adjacent the rear of the housing 1410 andextending between the dust and debris outlet 1420 and the first end 1411of the housing 1410. The debris passage 1430 has a particulate-laden airingress 1407 for receiving particulate-laden air flow from the airsupply passage 1480. The air supply passage 1480 has an air inlet 1481in fluid communication with a source of high speed air such as the mainfan 1417, a bottom opening 1484 for permitting high speed air from theair inlet 1481 to be forcefully directed to a surface to be cleaned1404, and an air outlet 1489 in fluid communication with theparticulate-laden air ingress 1407 of the housing 1410 for permittingthe transfer of particulate-laden air from the air supply passage 1480to the housing 1410. A first pair of non-rotating main brooms 1440 (onlyone shown) are operatively mounted in the housing 1410 adjacent thedebris passage 1430 for cleaning contact with a surface to be cleaned1404, thereby loosening debris for subsequent suctioning into the dustand debris outlet 1419. A second pair of non-rotating main brooms 1440(only one shown) are operatively mounted in housing 1410, within the airsupply passages 1480, specifically at the back of the air supplypassages 1480.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 15A, which shows the fifteenthpreferred embodiment of the dustless pick-up head system, as indicatedby the general reference numeral 1500. The fifteenth preferredembodiment dustless pick-up head system 1500 is similar to the firstpreferred embodiment pick-up head system 100, except that there is avertical support wall 1552 disposed directly rearwardly of the mainbroom 1551 in supporting relation with respect to the main broom 1551 asit sweeps the surface to be cleaned 1504. As the surface cleaningvehicle 1502 moves forwardly along the surface to be cleaned 1504, themain broom 1551 can be bent rearwardly at the bottom, thus losing itseffectiveness. The vertical support wall 1552 retains the main broom1551 in a generally straight and upright orientation as it sweeps.Alternatively, a horizontally oriented bar disposed immediately behindthe bottom of the main broom 1551 could be used.

As can be understood from the above description and from theaccompanying drawings, the present invention provides a dustless debrispick-up head system, and a pick-up head system wherein dust and otherfine particulate matter do not need to be propelled a significantdistance to an air stream, wherein a significant amount of dust andother fine particulate matter do not remain on the surface to becleaned, wherein the front-to-back cross-sectional area is minimized,that is significantly narrower from front-to-back than prior art pick-upheads, wherein the speed of the internal air stream is fast enough toclean effectively, wherein a very high powered main fan is not required,that cleans virtually all debris from a surface being cleaned, andwherein the direction of propulsion of the debris is generallytransversely oriented to the path the debris must take to reach thedebris outlet of the pick-up head, all of which features are unknown inthe prior art.

Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those whoare knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations areconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further,other modifications and alterations may be used in the design andmanufacture of the dustless pick-up head system of the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:
 1. A pick-up head system for use with a surface cleaningvehicle, said pick-up head system comprising: a housing extendingbetween a first end and a second end, and having a front and a back, anda suctioning bottom opening; a debris outlet in said housing forpermitting dust and debris to egress from said housing into a hopper; adebris passage disposed within said housing in dust and debris deliveryrelation with respect to said debris outlet; and, at least onenon-rotating main broom operatively mounted in said housing adjacentsaid debris passage for cleaning contact with a surface to be cleaned,thereby loosening debris for subsequent suctioning into said debrisoutlet.
 2. The pick-up head system of claim 1, wherein said at least onenon-rotating main broom has an overall front-to-back thickness and abottom contact surface with a front-to-back thickness, and wherein saidoverall front-to-back thickness of said at least one non-rotating mainbroom is substantially the same as said front-to-back thickness of saidbottom contact surface.
 3. The pick-up head system of claim 1, whereinsaid housing has a front wall, and further comprising a debris receivingmain inlet in said front wall of said housing in debris receivingrelation with respect to a surface to be cleaned, for receiving debristo said housing, and a door apparatus operatively mounted at said debrisreceiving main inlet.
 4. The pick-up head system of claim 3, whereinsaid door apparatus comprises a substantially sealed door apparatus. 5.The pick-up head system of claim 4, wherein said substantially sealeddoor apparatus comprises a rotatable door assembly defining asubstantially horizontally oriented central pivot axis and an outerperiphery, and a seal operatively disposed in sealing relation betweensaid rotatable door assembly and said housing.
 6. The pick-up headsystem of claim 1, further comprising a partition disposed between saiddebris passage and said at least one non-rotating main broom.
 7. Thepick-up head system of claim 1, wherein said at least one non-rotatingmain broom is disposed forwardly of said debris passage.
 8. The pick-uphead system of claim 1, wherein said at least one non-rotating mainbroom is disposed rearwardly of said debris passage.
 9. The pick-up headsystem of claim 1, wherein said at least one non-rotating main broomcomprises a stationary main broom.
 10. The pick-up head system of claim1, wherein said at least one non-rotating main broom comprises a movablemain broom.
 11. The pick-up head system of claim 8, wherein said movablemain broom comprises a vibrating main broom and a selectively operablemotor means for operating said vibrating main broom.
 12. The pick-uphead system of claim 8, wherein said movable main broom comprises anoscillating main broom and a selectively operable motor means foroperating said oscillating main broom.
 13. The pick-up head system ofclaim 10, wherein said oscillating main broom oscillates longitudinallyalong the length of said oscillating main broom.
 14. The pick-up headsystem of claim 10, wherein said oscillating main broom oscillatessubstantially transversely with respect to the length of saidoscillating main broom.
 15. The pick-up head system of claim 14, whereinsaid movable main broom comprises a segmented main broom comprising aplurality of broom segments, and a selectively operable motor means foroperating said segmented main broom.
 16. The pick-up head system ofclaim 13, wherein said plurality of broom segments are each mounted to achain drive mechanism comprising a drive chain operatively engaged on aplurality of sprockets, and wherein said selectively operable motormeans drives at least one of said sprockets.
 17. The pick-up head systemof claim 1, wherein said at least one non-rotating main broom extendssubstantially along the length of said debris passage.
 18. The pick-uphead system of claim 1, wherein said debris outlet is disposed inbetween said first end and said second end of said housing, and whereinsaid at least one non-rotating main broom comprises a first non-rotatingmain broom disposed between said first end of said housing and saiddebris outlet, and further comprising a second non-rotating main broomdisposed between said second end of said housing and said dust and saiddebris outlet.
 19. The pick-up head system of claim 16, wherein saidfirst non-rotating main broom and said second non-rotating main broomtogether extend substantially along the length of said debris passage.20. The pick-up head system of claim 17, further comprising a leftpartition and a right partition disposed between said debris passage andsaid first non-rotating main broom and said second non-rotating mainbroom, respectively.
 21. The pick-up head system of claim 18, whereinsaid debris passage is disposed between said first non-rotating mainbroom and said second non-rotating main broom.
 22. The pick-up headsystem of claim 19, further comprising substantially rigid skirtdisposed at said bottom peripheral edge of said housing for interfacingsaid housing in substantially sealed relation with the surface to becleaned as the surface cleaning vehicle moves along said surface to becleaned.
 23. The pick-up head system of claim 20, further comprising anair supply passage within said housing having an air inlet adjacent saiddebris outlet and an air outlet adjacent said first end of said housing,wherein said air inlet is connectable to a source of high speed airflow, wherein said air supply passage provides a flow of high speed airto said debris passage at the first end of said housing for cleaning thesurface to be cleaned substantially evenly from the first end of saidhousing to said debris outlet.
 24. The pick-up head system of claim 1,further comprising an airflow obstructing means depending from the frontof said housing for generally obstructing the passage of air between thebottom edge of said main housing and the surface to be cleaned.
 25. Thepick-up head system of claim 24, wherein said airflow obstructing meansis stiff.
 26. The pick-up head system of claim 1, wherein said at leastone non-rotating main broom is less than about eight centimeters inwidth.
 27. The pick-up head system of claim 1, wherein said at least onenon-rotating main broom is about four centimeters in width.
 28. Thepick-up head system of claim 1, wherein said at least one non-rotatingmain broom has a ratio of length to fore-aft width of greater than 20:1.29. The pick-up head system of claim 1, further comprising a debrissuctioning inlet in said housing disposed adjacent said first end ofsaid housing for suctioning dust and debris into said debris passage,and wherein said debris passage extends from said debris suctioninginlet to said debris outlet.
 30. The pick-up head system of claim 29,wherein said debris suctioning inlet is disposed at said first end ofsaid housing.